Golden Hills School supports animal rescue, tsunami victims

We’ve all seen the “Think Globally, Act Locally” bumper sticker around town, but it’s more than a slogan for a local school.

Golden Hills School, a non-profit school in El Dorado Hills, is holding its annual auction this month, but they’re doing more than raising money for themselves. They’re raising money for a local animal rescue shelter and for the relief effort in Japan.

“We’ve always thought of our auction as a community event” siad Jean Losey, principal of the school, “and we understand that our community is a global one.”

The school is working locally with The Grace Foundation, a rescue and rehabilitation shelter for large and small animals, ensuring 50 volunteer hours a year and including them in school events to help them expand their donors and volunteers. “There are so many animals in need right now. In April, we’ve already taken more animals than we did all of last year. We can use all of the support we can get,” said Beth DeCaprio the executive director.

Golden Hills School’s global outreach is focused on Japan. They are teaming up with Mikuni Restaurant Group Inc. to share the proceeds from one of the most exciting live auction items of the night, a VIP dinner at Taro’s By Mikuni for eight with the charismatic owner of Mikuni, Taro Arai, as the personal chef.

“This is a win for Mikuni,” said Taro Arai. “We can support a local school and Japan with one gift.”

The school’s Leadership Team also raises money for students in Africa through the organization Coins for Compassion.

Tokiko White, a parent at Golden Hills School and a Japanese native, finds comfort in knowing that she and her son Joe in first grade have support at school. “Being so far from home and seeing the devastation of the triple disaster has been difficult. It is comforting to know that my community here cares for my people there.”

Principal Losey said she sees the connection between stranded animals two miles away and people in need 5,000 miles away. “We’re all connected. “The word ‘community’ is a global term now, and our students are going to have a major role to play in the coming decades. Opportunities like these give us a chance to teach by doing.”

If you’d like to attend the Golden Hills School auction on April 30, or bid on one of the auction items, go to goldenhillsschool.net/auction or call (916) 933-0100. Tickets are $50 or $75 per person.